Stereotype plate casting machine



Nov. 15, 1932. BROCKEL STEREOTYPE PLATE CASTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 23, 1951 //2 #2727 5 at mob/L mar nnocxnn, or auosnono, damn! PATENT OFFICE ASSIGNOB TO MASOHINENFABBIK AUGS- BUBG-mNBI-RG A. 6., OF AUGSBURG, GERMANY, A CORPORATION OF GERMANY srnnno'r rn PLATE casrmo mionmn Application filed September 28, 1881, Serial No. 564,485, and in Germany October 8, 1930.

In order to the mould of a stereotype plate casting machine with the molten metal, until now oneof two ways is usually followed. Either the, metal is pumped into the mould 5 by means of a pum situated within the melting pot, or" the me ting potis set up higher than the mould and provided with a cock, a slide valve or other valve throu h which the molten metal may flow into t e mold.

- 7 Machines of the first mentioned type have the advantage that the shut-ofl member is not continually subjected to the pressure of the contents of the pot, and conse uently may be kept tight. easier; on the ot er hand, the pumps occupy. much room in the meltmg pots and have to'b'e cleaned frequently. This is the case also in plate casting machines provided with a melting pot within which a vessel, connected with compressed air pipin m is placed, and at the bottom ofwhich vesse 'a valve is situated wherefrom piping leads to the mould.

According to the invention, the metal by the aid of partial vacuum is caused to ascend into one end of a pipe, closed at the-top, which isg'situated above the metal inlet of the mould and out of which the metal may, from above, flow into the mould. The other end of the pipe dips into the molten metal. The end, which is closed at the top may be connected alternately with a means for producing partial vacuum, such as a suction pump or a suction air vessel and, in order to raise the partial vacuum, with the outer air or a mfians for-producing pressure above atmosp eric. I 7

It isknown to evacuate the mould and with the aid of partial vacuum introduce the metal into the mould. at the lower end thereof. In 40 the novel machine according to the invention the molten metal is caused to ascend by partial vacuum, but'then flowginto'the mould from above, so that the non-porously cast plate is sub'ected to the pressure of the A molten meta or in certain. cases, to addi-' tional pressure above atmospheric, whereby plates of particularly high density are obtained.

Figs. 13 of the drawing show a preferred form of the object of the invention;

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the whole machine;

Figs. 2 and 3 show various positions of the controlling members;

Figs. 46 show various positions of the controlling members in a slightly alternative form of the invention. I

In the machine according to Fig. 1, piping 2 leads from the bottom of the melting pot 1 to the body 3 of a cock provided with a threeways plug 4. By means of this plug 4 the interior of the body of the cock may be put in communication with the mould 5 and the ascending pipe 6 which is closed on top. From the upper end of the ascending pipe 6,

iping 7, 8, leads to the vessel 9, from which y a suction pump, not shown, through a,

pipe 11, air is continually withdrawn. Piping 7 8 is provided with a three-ways cook 12 which in one position connects section 7 with section 8 and the vessel 9, and in the other ,p'osition connects section 7 of the piping with the aperture 13 which leads into the outer air or an air pressure vessel.

The operation of casting-with a machine according to Fig. 1 is as follows As soon as the suction pump commences to work and assuming that the valve 4 is in the position shown in'Figure 1, the metal will ascend through piping 2 and cockbody 3 into the ascending pipe 6 situated above the metal inlet of the mould 5. The degree of partial vacuum is automatically controlled so that the metal will alwa s ascend to the level A-A. Piping 2, coc body 3and ascending pipe 6 are suitably heated to prevent the metal contained therein. fromcooling and SOl'ldifYiHg. v I f I .Nowafter the mould 5 has been locked and brought into the working position shown in Fig. 1, the position of plug 4 shownin Fig. 1, in known manner, is altered to that shown in Fig.2. At the same timethe three-wa s cook 12 is positioned as shown in Fig. 3. T e

outer air now, through aperture 13 and piping 7 enters the ascending ipe 6 at the top and forces the metal throug slot 14 into-the mould 5, thereby causing the levelof the metal to sink from line A-A to line B-B.

The metal now solidifies under a pressure pro a regulating valve in such manner that, in-

dependently of the quantity of metal contained in the melting pot 1, the level of the metal required for casting a plate will al ways reach the line AA. To this end a float 16 is provided, which floats on the surface of the molten metal, and is fixed on a .journal pin 17. A lever 18 is also fastened to the journal pin 17 and carries a set screw 19 which presses upon a spring 20, which in turn presses upon the valve-15, thereb maintaining the valve normally closed un er a sprin pressure which is proportionate to the leve of the metal in the pot.

' If the melting pot contains much metal and the float 16 consequently occupies the position indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawing by full outlines, the pressure of the spring 20 upon the cone 15 of the valve is low. Consequently the partial vacuum effected will, relative to the outside air, also be low, as the cone 15 of the valve will admit outside air as soon as a certain degree of pressure is reached. At low level of the metal in the melting pot 1, the pressure exercised by the spring 20 will be higher; partial vacuum then approaches absolute vacuum and the metal will in this case also rise to the level A-A. The metal in the mould will consequently solidify under the same pressure it, no matter whether the melting pot 1 contains: little metal or much metal.

As already mentioned, the pi ing 7 in the position shown in Fig. 3 may, t rou h aperture 13, be connected with a means or producing pressure above atmospheric, such as a pressure air vessel, instead of the outer air. In that case preferably the suction side of a -d0uble acting pump will be connected with evacuate the mould. If the mou plug 4 in the position shown in Fig. 6, and the three-ways cock' 12 in the position shown in Fig. 3, the metal in the melting pot will be 1 the partial vacuumve'ssel 9, and thepressure side with the pressure'air vessel connected with aperture 13. 4 y

With the body of the cock in' the positions shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, it is level with the metal in the piping 2. After locking the mould 5, plug; is brought into the position shown in Fig. 4 and ascending pi e 6 is connected with the vessel 9 by revo ving the three-ways cook 12 into the posiortionate to the height h of the column of possible to is open,

tion' according Fig. partial vacuum in the vessel 9 will then at the same time suck the air from the tightl fitting mould and cause the metal containe in the meltin 0t 1 to ascend, through piping 2, to the love C (Fig. 4) The metal will also fill the mould, thus forcing the residual air to escape through ascending pipe 6. This operation occup es about 2 to 3 seconds. As soon as the metal has reached the level C--(), the plu will be brought into the position shown in ig. 5 and the three-ways cock 12 into the position shown in Fig. 3. The pressure of the outer air now bears fully upon the metal and the plate will solidify under a pressure proportionate to the height It. After revolving the plug 4 into the position shown in Fig. 6, the metal in the ascending pipe 6 flowsback into the melting pot- 1 and the mould 5 may be opened. The same succession of operations is repeated when casting the next plate.

WhatIclaimis: 1. A casting. machine of the character described comprising, in combination, a melting pot, a mould, a valve casing havin a valve chamber in communication with t e upper end of the mould, a molten metal supply pi e opening at one end into the pot below 't e level of the metal therein and at its other end into said valve chamber, a container for molten metal located above the valve casing and opening at its lower end into said valve chamber, a source of sub-atmospheric pressure connected with the upper end of said container, means for cuttin ofl communication between said contamer and said source of sub-atmospheric pressure and for establishing communication between the upper end of said. container and a higher pressure at least as high as atmos-. pheric pressure, and a valve within said valve chamber movable to a position to establish communication between said pipe and said container and to simultaneously deny communication of both said pipe and said container with the mould, and also to another position in which communication of the pi with both the container and the mould is e-' nied and communication is, established be,- tween the container and the mould.

to establish. communication simultaneously betweentheimolten' metal supply pipe, the mould and the container.

3. A casting machine as set forth in claim 111i 2. A castingmachine as set forth in claim *1 in'which the valve is movable to a position 4. A casting machine as set forth in claim 1 including means to assure that fora constant degree of sub-atmospheric pressure to which the container is subjected for elevating molten metal from the pot into said container, the molten metal always will rise in said container to a predetermined level irrespective of the level of the metal in the pot.

5. A casting machine as set forth in claim 1 including a pipe connection between the upper end of the container and the source of sub-atmospheric pressure, a valve in said pipe controlling communication between the pipe and a source of higher pressure at least as high as atmospheric pressure, a spring engaging said valve, and a member floating on the metal in the pot and operating throu h said spring to maintain the valve normafiy closed under a spring pressure which increases with lowering ofthe level of the liquid in the pot.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ERNST BROCKEL. 

